After ten years I'm no longer on the committee for Qld Independent Cat Council. I stood down from the secretary position at yesterday's AGM, and declined nomination for any other position. It feels strange.

I've thrown myself wholeheartedly into my membership of QICC, holding at various times the presidency, the treasurer role and for the last two years being secretary. But then something happened, which made me feel sick at heart and I felt I had no alternative but to stand down, and am seriously considering leaving the council altogether. You see, QICC has long had a reputation for being dodgy. I always though it was unfounded and I've defended the organisation for as long as I've been a member, saying that we're NOT dodgy; might be a bit slack in some departments but we don't do anything underhand.

And then I found out that we did. Only a little thing, maybe, but I felt devastated to learn that I was wrong. And if this one thing was dodgy, how many other dodgy things was I simply not aware of? I couldn't sleep for a couple of nights, thinking about this. At the meeting yesterday two other examples of underhanded dealing were discussed, and everyone was laughing about them, while I'm sat there feeling like a lone wolf howling at the moon, and all I'm getting is bottles thrown at me. In a manner of speaking.

So that's it, I'm out. I can't condone their actions, I don't agree with the prevalent mindset, and I can't stomach their ethics. And it hurts, dammit. It's not supposed to hurt like this when it was my decision to go.

It sounds as though you've needed a lot of patience, but well done you for seeing it through. It's NOT easy! I hope it gets better for you, and I'm sorry your jerk not-friend has disappointed you so badly.

Be proud of yourself; you made the right decision! We're in a world that's in short supply of people who have the courage to follow their conscience and do the right thing.Hugs to you and a pat on the back!